Cousin to Cousin: Leave Him and Go Back to School
For Kenyan teen Elizabeth Kavuto’s cousin, a “poor quality of education” in her village was the least of her roadblocks in attaining academic success.
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Girls Bolt to Safe House to Avoid FGM
For writer Barbra Emily, not seeing her family is a small price to pay for escaping female genital mutilation, a practice undergone by 27 percent of women in Kenya, the World Health Organization reports.
Girls in Kenya Destigmatize Periods for Peers
Studies report that girls in Kenya miss 3.5 million learning days per month because of a lack of available menstruation products. Here, Daraja Academy student Joyce Wanjiru writes about a friend who inspired her to help all girls in Kenya, one sanitary towel at time.
Kenyan Teen Plagued by Polygamy, Brothers
Here, Daraja student Bilha Akoth writes about her friend Wendy, whose father has many wives. She can deal with the polygamy. It’s not having a brother that is a bigger problem.
Peer Pressure Affects Teens in Kenya, Too
Despite government efforts to curb the trend, drug addiction is increasing among Kenyan youth. Here, a Daraja Academy student shares how peer pressure led to her sister’s problem.
Hard Life is Unfair Lesson to Kenyan Teen
Kenyan teen Joyce Wanjiru knows how lucky she is compared to her peers. “People say life is not fair but my friend Mercy had to live this phrase every day,” writes Wanjiru.
Pro-Choicers Cheer Chile; LGBT Threats Are Global
Chile has taken steps to decriminalize abortion under certain circumstances. Also, during a press call this week, activists highlighted how the LGBT community is at risk in developing countries.
Oromo Refugees Use Veil for Protection, Disguise
The adoption of the veil among this group in Kenya’s refugee communities is a new thing, says Peri M. Klemm in this excerpt from “Veiling in Africa.” While there are many reasons for this push, Islam isn’t a motivation for covering up.
Kenyan Girls Use ‘Talking Box’ to Write What’s Wrong
Some schoolgirls in Kibera, Kenya’s largest slum, are writing down their problems and submitting them to a message box. Schools are using the information to alleviate everything from molestation to family financial pressures.
‘Taking Root’ Filmmaker Remembers Wangari Maathai
“Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai” is broadcast tonight on PBS. Here, Lisa Merton looks back on making the film in Kenya and struggling to capture the sense of divinity and hope projected by the recently deceased Nobel laureate.
